Adjusting device between tripods and cameras of photographic apparatus.



Patented Aug. l5, I899.

No. 63l,03l.

A. H. SPURR. ADJUSTING DEVICE BETWEEN TRIPODS AND CAMERAS 0FPHOTOGRAPH"; APPARATUS.

(Application filed Apr. 11, 189B.)

(Nu Model.)

mun i a m: Norms PETER: ca. mmouwa. vaswmfomp. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR H. SPURR, OF CRESTON, IOWA.

ADJUSTING DEVICE BETWEEN TRIPODS AND CAMERAS OF PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 631,031, dated August15, 1899.

Application filed April 11, 1898.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR H. SPURR, a citizen of the United States,residing at Creston, in the county of Union and State of Iowa, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Adjusting DevicesBetween Tripods and Cameras of Photographic Apparatus, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to a certainimproved device for use in connectionwith the tripod and camera of a photographic apparatus.

As is well known in the art of photography, the camera is usuallymounted upon a tripod, which rests upon the ground when the camera is inuse.

In order to properly position the object to be photographed upon theground glass or view-finder, it is necessary to adjust the camera bodilyin various diifering angles, and this has been in a measure imperfectlyaccom- 'plished by the adjustment of some one or more of the legs orsupports of the tripod. Thus to vary the angle of the camera one ofthese legs or supports is moved toward or away from the center ofgravity of the apparatus. At best it is impossible to obtain minuteangular adjustment by such means, and oftentimes it is impossible toobtain any effective adjustment owing to the uneven surface of theground upon which the tripod must rest. Again, frequently to obtainproper adj ustment one leg or support of the tripod may be so close tothe center of gravity of the apparatus that the slightest jar will upsetthe apparatus, and then again it is often necessary to hold or brace.one of the legs while the picture is being taken to prevent theapparatus from falling to the ground and to maintain the camera in theadjusted position. It is also evident that such ameans of adjustment isinconvenient and requires repeated manipulation. The operator in orderto properly position the objects upon the ground glass or view-findermust concentrate his vision upon the objects and their relation to theground glass or view finder and frequently finds it necessary to effectan adjustment with his vision directed upon the object and withoutremoving his eye from the ground glass or view-finder. In order toaccomplish an adjustment with the present apparatus, it

Serial No. 677,145. (No model.)

it difficult to position the objects upon the ground glass orview-finder with accuracy. Again, when an angular adjustment has beenobtained by this movement of the legs it frequently occurs that the endof the leg sinks into the soft ground or strikes a movable obj ect,whichdisturbs the adjustment, and when the picture is taken it is found to beimproperly positioned.

The object of my invention is to provide means whereby to overcome allof these defects and to effect angular adjustments by means convenientlyand absolutely within the control of the operator which permit minuteand accurate adjustments of the camera and which when obtained shallalways remain in the adjusted position.

My invention consists in certain features about to be described, andpointed out in my claims, reference being now made to the accompanyingdrawings, in WlllC-l1- Figure l is a side elevation of a camera andtripod with my improved device between them, the dotted lines showing avertical adj ustment. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side View of my improvedconnection with one member of the clamp removed. Fig. 3 is across-section on the line was of Fig. 2 in the direction of the arrows.Fig. 4: is a sectional plan View on the line 5 z of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is aperspective View of the removable member of the clamp and its relationto the stationary member thereof.

The camera is designated at A, of ordinary construction and mounted uponthe tripodsupport B. The connecting device which I inter-pose betweenthe tripod B and the camera A consists of a supporting-tripod disk D,which is mounted upon the tripod head D and held in place by means of athumb-screw D Fig.2. Projected upward from the disk D is aspherical headE, which is received within a cup-shaped receptacle H, which projectsdownward from a camera-disk H This cup-shaped receptacle H is formed byjoining together two clamping pieces or members, one of which may betermed the stationary member, as it is secured to the disk H and whichis designated at J. The other piece or member J may be termed theremovable member, as it is capable of being separated from its positionin connection with the member J. The disk H is held upon the camera-boxA by means of the screwthreaded pin K. One end of the stationary memberJ has an inturned lip L, forming a groove L for the reception of theattenuated end L of the member J Thus when the end L is within thegroove L the two clamping members J and J 2 are united together at thispoint. The other two ends of the clamping members are held together bymeans of the thumb-screw M.

It will be observed from the foregoing description that I have provideda connection between the camera and the tripod which permits a movementof the camera upon the tripod in any direction to adjust the camera atany required angle in order to properly position the object or objectsupon the ground glass or view-finder. Thus, as shown by the dotted linesin Fig. 1, the camera is shown adjusted angularly in one desiredposition in a vertical direction, and in Fig. 2 the camera is shownvertically adjusted in another angular position in a differentdirection, and in Fig. 3 the camera is shown adjusted laterally at stillanother angle. In eifecting this ad justment the cup-shaped receptacle Hmoves upon the circular head E universally, and thus permits any desiredangular adjustment of the camera upon the supporting-tripod.

To effect adjustment and properly position the object or objects uponthe ground glass or view-finder, the operator preferably selects adesirable spot upon which to place the tripod. The ends of thetripod-legs are then inserted and ascertained to be in a firm permanentposition. With my improved device when the legs of the tripod are placedin position they are not again disturbed or moved in anymanner to effectthe necessary angular adjustment. The operator then proceeds to positionthe object or objects upon the viewfinder or ground glass by graspingthe camerabox and simply and easily turning it to any desired angle inorder to accomplish the necessary ends. By this bodily movement of thecamera the objects may be adjusted accurately and readily upon theground glass or view-finder and this result accomplished withoutinterfering with the vision of the operator.

Oftentimes the uneven surface of the ground renders it difficult toobtain a proper angular adjustment of the camera by shifting the legs ofthe tripod; Thus, for instance, upon the side of a hill or in a ravineit is often extremely difficult or impossible to obtain the necessaryadjustment angularly by shifting the legs of the tripod. In this classof apparatus heretofore by reason of the inflexible connection betweenthe camera and the tripod no other means is afforded for obtain ingangular adjustments than the shifting of the tripod-legs, whereas withmy improved device the adjustments are efiected by the bodily movementof the camera, the tripodadjustment is never disturbed by anydislocation.

It is evident that heretofore when the adjustment is effected byshifting the tripodlegs the ends of the legs are not positioned in aselected place and often encounter a movable object or soft ground,whichdisturbs the angular adjustment.

By means of the two-part clamping member containing the receptacle forthe head and the thumb-screw acting upon the clamp I am enabled tosecure the adjustment of .the camera in relation to the fixed tripod,and when the required angle has been obtained then the camera may belocked or securely held in the adjusted position upon the fixed tripod.

Under certain circumstances it is frequently necessary to obtain theadjustment of the camera at an acute angle, and the tripod-legispositioned either in such close proximity to the center of gravity as torequire a brace to hold it from falling or to hold it in position withthe hand. WVith my improved apparatus,- however, it is evident thatthis-is not necessary.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with the camera and tripod of a photographicapparatus, of a connection therefor comprising a globular head providedwith means for securing it-to one of the members composing theapparatus; a

couple of vertically-disposed and horizon tally-separable platesconstructed so as to provide a socket for said globular head, one

of said plates having one of its ends provided with a groove, and theother plate having its end adapted to fit within said groove; and

means for locking the opposite ends of said In testimony whereof I aifixmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

ARTHUR H. SPURR.

Vitnesses:

CHAS. O. BULKLEY, L. M. BULKLEY.

